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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. squash — the sport
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. cap — a lid
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. lean — thin
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. charge — in control
  12. cap — of ice
  13. charge — a price
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ball — a dance
  17. charge — electricity
  18. lean — to bend
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. cap — a hat
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pit — a hole
  23. pit — in a race
  24. squash — to crush

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com